Convertible plate for electrical plug-receptacles



A. C. RECKER.

CONVERTIBLE PLATEFOH ELECTRICAL PLUG RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1919.

1 ,349, 978. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

mm; c. aaxaiaam ata .W NEQZI essIeNoa T THE .OIIIASE COMPANIES, Inc, orWATERBURY, comimcTIcUaA CORPORATION.

CONVERTIBLE PLATE FoanLEerftfCAt rtbe-iilfiefzrirecnns.

Speci ication of Letters intent. Patented Aug, 17, 1920,

Application filed September 20, 1919. Serial No. 325,210.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPH C. BECKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakville, in the county of Litchfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ConvertiblePlates for Electrical Plug-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, andexact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute partof this application, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a face view of an electrical plugreceptacle plate embodying myinvention and provided with its externally applied door whereby it isconverted for use with standard plug-receptacles of the screw-plug type,the door being shown in its closed position.

Fig. 2 a corresponding view showing the plate as applied to a standardplug-receptacle of the screw-plug type and with its door in the open orclearance position thereof.

Fig. 3 a face view of the plate with its door removed and therefore asconverted for use with a standard plug-receptacle of the push-plug type.

Fig. 4 a detached view of the plate with its door removed.

My invention relates to an improved plate convertible for use withelectrical plug-re ceptacles of the screw-plug and push-plug types, theobject being to produce a standard plate, which may be readily convertedfor use with one type of plug-receptacle or the other without structuralchange beyond the removal and replacement of an externally appliedpivotal door or closure.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in a receptacle-platehaving a serviceopenin and screw-holes located on opposite sides 0 thesaid service-opening for the reception of the screws by means of whichthe plate is fastened to the receptacle and the said plate having aremovable door unit adapted to be applied to the exterior surface of theplate and comprising a closure-plate and a leaf to which the same ishinged, the said leaf being formed with an opening for the reception ofone of the said screws.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ a beveled oblongplate 2 formed with a circular service-opening 3 and screw-holes 4: and5 located on opposite sides of the said opening, which is made somewhatlarger in diameter than the threaded socket 6 of a standardplug-receptacle of the screw-plug type, and also large enough to receivethe circular boss 7 of a standard plug-rcccptacle of the push-plug type.The screw-holes 4 and 5 are of course spaced with reference to theservice-opening 3, and to the screw-holes provided in the two types ofplug-rcceptacles mentioned, for the attachment of the receptacle-plates.

Vthen it is intended to use my improved plate with a receptacle of thescrew-plug type, it is converted for that purpose by its provision withan externally applied removable door-unit, comprising a circularclosure-plate S hinged to a shaped leaf 9, having a perforation 10 forthe reception of the screw 11, which discharges the double function ofsecuring the door-unit to the plate and the plate to the receptacle. Byapplying the door-unit to the exterior surface of the plate, theclosure-plate 8, or door proper, folds back, shown in Fig. 2, into aplane parallel with the plane of the plate, so as to be virtually out ofthe way, whereas doors when hinged at a point back of the face of theplate can be swung outward only into a position at a right angle to theface of the plate, in which exposed position the door is liable to bebent or broken and disabled. When the screw-plug receptacle is not inuse, the closure-plate 8 is swung down into its closed position in whichit prevents dust from entering the screw-socket 6 and also avoids thedanger of the introduction of the fingers into the socket 6 so as toreceive the current.

To convert the plate for use in conjunction with a plug-receptacle ofthe pushplug type, it is only necessary to discard the door-unit, whichmay be done without disfiguring the plate, since its screw-holes 4' and5 are then occupied by the fastening screws 11 and 12, as shown in Fig.3. By preference and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the closure-plate 8 isflanged as at 13 to overlap the edges of the service-opening 3, but thisis not essential, but it is essential that the door-unit be mede ierremovable attachment to the exteriorsurface of the plate ineteed of tothe rear face thereof.

I claim:

A door-unit for the conversion of plates for electrical plug-receptaclesof the screwplug and push-plug types, the said unit consisting of aclosure-plate and a lee'f to which the same is secured and which isperforated for the reception of one of the screws by means of which theplate is secured to the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

ADOLPH C. RECKER.

Witnesses:

JOHN S. NEAGLE, H. M. UPBON.

